Life and Death

Without a word, our detective sergeant slapped me一that felt nice it's as if he woke me up into my senses, so I smirked, raised my chin, and faced him with my two fearless eyes.

Pumalapak ako at itinaas ang aking kilay. "That's a great strike, Sergeant Hermes Castro, that's exceedingly great," sinadya kong bigyan ng nakakairitang tono ang pagsambit ko ng aking linya, gusto ko rin bigyan ng malakas na sampal ang taong nasa harapan ko dahil nakakadiri siya, nagpapamanipulate sa mga may matataas na ranggo para lang manatili bilang detective sergeant o malala ay para mas tumaas pa, ayoko sa mga taong katulad niya, ayoko.

Ayokong magpanggap na mahina porket mas mataas siya sa akin, isa rin iyon sa ayoko一ayokong nagpaapak sa mga taong katulad niya na mas malala pa sa mga kriminal na nandito sa loob ng District Office.

"Beltran, ayusin mo ang lenggwahe mo," dinuro niya ako kaya mas lalong nag-init ang aking dugo. "Ibigay mo na sa akin ang baril, ID, badge at posas mo, you are under probation Detective Officer Saniya Beltran, don't come back to the District Office for the time being."

Inayos ko ang tayo ko. "This is unbelievable, you are putting a righteous detective in probation just because she put the son of a presidential candidate in the cell for homicide?" I asked.

Si Alexander Ruiz ang prime suspect sa isang hit-and-run case ni kay Uriva Galvez, 19 years old, natagpuan siyang duguan sa madilim na umaga sa Pole High-Way at wala nang buhay.

"Ayaw mo ng probation? Sige, palabasin mo ngayon sa holding cell si Mr. Ruiz, kapag ginawa mo iyon maaari ka pang bumalik bukas dito."

"So this is still how you do it? But I am sorry, I would rather risk down my position over letting go that murderer. He is the prime suspect, the evidence showed he killed Uriva Galvez. I have the right to arrest him because there is enough evidence," kinuha ko ang brown envelope, nakapaloob doon ang litrato ng kotse na bumangga kay Uriva kasama ang plate number, at iyon ay pagmamay-ari ni Alexander Ruiz.

The evidence points at him and I also never putted an innocent person in the cell which means he is the murderer, he killed Uriva Galvez. Iniwan niya sa malamig na daanan at hindi lang iyon hinayaan niya pa itong mamatay.

Kinuha niya ang laman ng brown envelope.

"This is murder, I won't let him go, never."

"This isn't murder," a frown landed on my forehead, maski ang mga kapwa ko opisyales ay nagtataka sa binitawan niyang salita.

"Obvious na murder ito, Sergeant Castro," nilingon ko si Detective Morgan, isa ring detective officer at love interest ko, tiningnan niya ako at nginitian bago tumingin muli sa kaniyang kausap. "Patay na si Uriva Galvez kaya imposibleng maging attempted murder lang ito."

"Hindi rin ito attempted murder, Tolentino," sambit pa niya, iniabot niya kay Tolentino ang papel, may kinuha naman siyang flashdrive sa kaniyang coat pocket.

Inabot niya ito sa akin.

"Sira ang CCTV sa parteng iyon ng Pole High-Way pero mayroon akong dashcam footage na nakuha sa isang kotseng nakaparke malapit sa insidente."

"That's nonsense, paano magkakaroon ng kotse doon?" tanong ko, this is really absurd, why is he making things worse? I can't believe he is siding with that murderer for whatever his intention is.

"Why don't you play it?" aniya pa, napapikit ako at saka naglakad. Inopen ko ang flashdrive at ikinabit ito sa flatscreen TV ng aming department.

I stepped backwards to see what happened in the dashcam he is talking about, but I won't believe it no matter what, I know my instinct and I never failed.

Tiningnan ko si Morgan na hawak ang remote. I want to stop him because I felt a vexation feeling inside me.

I closed my eyes and tried to get a hold of the situation, I am a detective, I have to see if it's a piece of false evidence or not.

I opened my eyes and focused on the screen, I could see from both of my peripheral visions that people around me are also watching, this can't be good.

Sa mga unang segundo ng video walang kahit ano, madilim na highway lang, wala ring dumadaang kotse na normal naman dahil madaling araw, ang oras sa video ay 2:43AM, trenta minuto bago ang estimated death ni Uriva. Nang pumatak na ang 2:44AM may headlight na paparating at habang papalapit ito nang papalapit at paliwanag nang paliwanag naaaninag pa rin ang pagtakbo ng isang babaeng naka-blue dress, katulad ng suot ni Uriva noong araw na iyon, hanggang sa mabangga na ang babae, lumabas ang driver, hindi kita ang mukha ngunit katulad din ng suot ni Alexander noong gabing iyon.

Inalis ko na sa pagkakasaksak ng TV.

"Do you expect me to believe that?" I asked. It's unbelievable, no traces of Alexander or even Uriva, yes the clothes are the same but that's easy to fabricate.

"Pero ang punto ay may bago ng ebidensya maliban sa litrato ng hit-and-run car plate number ng biktima," kinuha nya ang kaniyang phone at pinakita sa akin ang video kanina, nakapause ito sa part na pinatay ng driver ang headlight at kita ang plate number. "Tugma ang araw, oras at plate number."

"Nonetheless it could still be a fabricated evidence, at anong koneksyon noon sa pagiging hindi murder ng case ni Uriva?" napangisi ako, hindi ko napigilan dahil alam ko na kung saan patungo ito. "Ibig mo bang sabihin involuntary manslaughter ito, Sergeant Castro?" tanong ko.

"Nakuha mo, halata naman sa video na tumakbo si Uriva nang walang pasabi samantalang ang nagmamaneho ng kotse ay walang kamalay-malay na may nabangga na pala siya, hindi ito murder, Beltran," he sounds displeasing, his voice is shaking quietly, I can hear it.

There is something wrong with his testimony, with everything he said it's all obviously points out Alexander as the real suspect. There is something fishy. Hindi lang ito yun, sigurado ako, what could be their real agenda?

Biglang dumating ang mga loyal na detective officers ni Sergeant Castro, mas matanda sa akin ngunit kapareho ko lang ng posisyon, bilang head ng team hindi ako laging sinusunod at mas sinusunod ang utos ng amo-amohan nila. May dala silang lalaking nakaposas ang kamay at marahas itong pinaluhod. Bugbog ang mukha niya at halatang hingal na hingal.

"Who is he?" tanong ko. Bakit ayaw gumana ng mga cells ko sa aking utak?

"Gavin Torres, ang tunay na suspect sa kasong ito, siya ang driver ng kotse ni Alexander Ruiz noong gabing iyon."

Napapikit ako, I knew it, of course they are not just fabricating an evidence but also using someone to give false testimony. Naglakad ako papunta sa lalaking dinala nila para pumalit sa pwesto ni Alexander. Itinaas ko ang ulo niyang nakababa sa akin. "Is it you? Are you the one who killed Uriva Galvez?"

Marahan niyang tinango ang ulo niya. "Ako ang nakabangga sa kaniya, hindi ko iyon sinasadya, mabilis ang pangyayari at hindi ko inaasahang susulpot siya," napapikit ako. It's really not him, my instinct says so. He is just one of those dirty ups framed up no一commanded rather.

"I see. Detective Morgan Tolentino kindly release Mr. Ruiz, and that guy, put that asshole behind the bars," I said as I point out the new fake suspect and go to Sergeant Castro. "I am sorry for my stubborness Sergeant, this won't happen again," I bow my head in-front of him, I heard him cough.

"I thought you are competent, Beltran, I am very disappointed," aniya bago ko marinig ang paglabas niya sa aming department.

Nang makita ko ang paglabas ni Ruiz sa holding cell habang nakaposas, nilapitan ko siya, kinuha ko ang susi ng handcuff sa kamay ni Morgan, nang ipasok ko ang susi at saka inilapit ang bibig ko sa kaniyang tenga.

"Enjoyin mo na ang mga natitirang araw mo sa labas ng kulungan dahil sinisiguro ko sayong hindi ka na sisinagan pa ng araw kapag nalagyan ulit kita ng posas, watch my words, Ruiz, hindi ako papayag na makatakas ka krimeng ginawa mo," bulong ko sa kaniya, nang marinig ko ang pagkalas ng lock ng posas bigla siyang ngumisi.

Tiningnan niya ako ng madiin. "It would be my pleasure to meet you again, Miss Saniya," he said until he walked and was escorted by detective sergeant's loyal pawns, nilingon niya pa ako at kinawayan habang may nakakalokong ngiti sa lagi.

Nang maglaho sila inalis ko ang jacket ko at inibagsak ito sa sahig. "Bullshit!" sigaw ko.

Galit na galit ako, punong-puno ng galit ang puso ko kaya hindi ako papayag na hindi makulong ang Ruiz na iyon, I will get him, I will get him.

"Saniya," I heard Detective Morgan Tolentino's voice at my back, I turned around and saw him handing my jacket, unexpectedly he put it on me and tapped my shoulder after, then started walking passed me. "Hindi mo dapat tinatapon ang regalo sayo ng manliligaw mo," ngumisi ako at sinundan siya.

I crossed my arm as I amble with him at the same time. "We have no time talking about you liking me so much, we have to catch Ruiz without any orders from the higher-ups."

"Yes, of course, ano pa nga ba inaasahan ko sayo? Competent ka kaya kahit anong mangyari gusto mong makulong ang may sala," tumigil siya at tumapat sa akin kaya ako napatigil sa paglalakad. "Paano kung kunin na talaga sayo ang titulo mo? Paano kung masisante ka?" he asked while looking really worried.

Binigyan ko siya ng ngiti at saka hinawakan ang panga niya. "I won't let that foolish thing to happen, don't you believe me?"

He sighed. "Hindi mo ako madadaan sa paghawak-hawak mo ng panga ko," what he said made me burst into laughter, he raised his left eyebrow and mouthed what?.

"But you know you can't stop me from being stubborn, right?" I asked. "Someone died- no, murdered rather, and her future was taken away by the privileged son of a presidential candidate. Uriva deserves justice, Morgan, I won't let her case be a laughingstock for those people behind the fabricated evidence and testimony, I won't."

May ngiting bumakas sa kaniyang labi. "This is exactly the reason why I like you very much. Don't you know you are sexy when you fight for your stand?" what he said made me gave him a rolling eye.

"Enough with these, Morgan, we are going somewhere."

"Saan?"

"Kanino," sambit ko.

Nandito kami ngayon sa kotse si Morgan, papunta kami sa may Salim, bolthole ng mga notorious hackers, swindlers at scammer. I know someone from that place that can help us find answers to arrest Alexander Ruiz.

Pinigilan akong lumabas ng kasama ko ng malaman niya kung saan kami tumigil, inalis ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa kaliwang braso ko.

"Hindi tayo pede humingi ng tulong sa mga kapwa natin pulis kaya anong inaasahan mo? Isa pa mahirap pagkatiwalaan ang mga tulad natin baka mamaya hawak din ng mga nakakataas ang buhay nila."

Napakamot siya batok. "Salim yan, Saniya, sinong mapagkakatiwalaan natin diyan?"

"Magnanakaw sila, hindi mamatay tao. Homicide detective tayo kaya wala sa kalingkingan ng mga nahuhuli natin ang krimen nila," bumuntong hininga siya bago itinaas ang dalawa niyang kamay dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Iba ka talaga, walang natatalo sayo," bigla siyang ngumisi. "Fine, tara na, para kay Uriva," he gave me a sweet smile.

Bago kami bumaba inalis muna namin ang ID pati mga gamit pulisya namin para iwas kapahamakan.

When we go down from the car, suspicious people started to show up but they didn't dare to talk to us because they seem to be very busy with what they look.

"Are you sure about this?" tanong niya sa akin, tumango lang ako.

Salim is a neighborhood of house trucks. Usually hindi permanent ang address nila dahil palipat-lipat, lagi kasing hinahabol ng mga pulis specifically ng organized crimes department.

I know a hacker residing in Salim.

Hinanap namin ang house truck niyang customized into optimus prime, ang ganda nga ng pagkakapintura nito kamukhang-kamukha maliban doon sa kulay itom na container kung nasaan ang kwarto niyang makitid.

"Ayun ba 'yon?" tanong ni Morgan, tinapik ko ang balikat niya at tumakbo papunta sa house truck na hinahanap namin.

Kinatok ko ng buong lakas ang pintuan ng bahay niya, narinig ko ang boses niyang mukhang galing sa pagkakatulog na sumigaw ng, "Sino yan?" nakapamewang ako nang buksan at makita ko si Shiloh na nagkakamot ng mata habang humihikab, nang makita niya ako, nanlaki ang mata niya at akma sanang sasaraduhan ang pintuan.

"Not too fast, young brother."

My arms are crossed while looking at my brother doing his hacking skills. Meron siyang tatlong monitor at isang makalumang laptop.

Someone pinched my right arm, tiningnan ko si Morgan. "Black hat hacker si Shiloh?" he asked whispering.

Black hat hacker o sa simpleng salita hacker na hindi nagtatrabaho sa government, ang isa pang ibig sabihin nito ay nanghahack for profit illegally.

I shook my head up and down but still focused on my brother's unbelievable hacking skills.

"Pero bakit..." I cut him off because I already know where this is going.

"What do you expect me to do call the cops一like us一and turn down my own brother to the police?" sagot ko pero ang mata ko ay nasa mga monitor pa rin, napakadaming color green code na lumalabas. "And also, I wouldn't dare waste my brother's precious talent in the police, police in our country sucks kaya nga ako naging parte ng pulisya para maayos ko ang sistema."

"Maayos ang sistema pero ayaw mong ilaglag ang masamang gawain ng kapatid mo?"

"You know this might give you a bad impression to my brother, right?" at this very moment I am now looking at him, he looks really angry and almost smoking red. Mukhang against talaga siya sa pag-keep ko sa kapatid kong hacker, but I am not even siding my brother's bad deeds, I am just using his talent for our advantage.

Bumuntong hininga na lamang siya.

"Naririnig ko kayo kaya pede itikom niyo ang bibig niyo para makapagfocus akong hanapin mga pinapahanap niyo?" napangisi ako habang nakatingin sa kapatid ko, tiningnan ko naman ulit si Morgan at tinaasan ko siya ng klay.

Umiling-iling siya. "Magkapatid nga kayo."

It took Shiloh 20 minutes to find everything we need, he's faster than the research team in the District Office, thank goodness I have a brother like him. Pinahanap ko sa kaniya ang location ni Alexander from 2 days ago at 2 AM onwards at napag-alam naming nasa Unwind Club siya ng mga oras na iyon.

Pinindot ni Shiloh ang enter. "Pumasok siya sa Unwind Club ng 1:49AM at lumabas ng 2:35AM, ito ang proof CCTV footage, nahirapan akong kunin iyan dahil nadelete na sa system ng Club buti na-recover ko."

"Bakit naman nila idedelete ang footage kung inosente si Ruiz?"

"Correct, he is guilty meaning to say, so, Shiloh, did you look up for the plate number I told you?" I said, my brother nodded.

Iginalaw niya ang mouse at may hinanap at saka ito pinakita sa amin. "2:36AM lumabas ang kotseng may plate number na FCK 782, at ang driver nito ay si Alexander."

Napangiti ako. "Si Gavin Torres, yung bodyguard niya, kasama ba niya?"

"Mag-isa lang si Alexander," what Shiloh said made me smile, even more, the fate is in our side.

Biglang napalean si Morgan sa isa sa mga monitor ng kapatid ko. "Pede bang izoom in mo itong parteng ito, mukhang may hawak si Ruiz," napatingin din ako sa monitor na tinutukoy niya, CCTV footage ito habang nasa parking lot si Alexander, nanliit ang mata ko, tama ang sinabi niya may hawak nga ang kanang kamay niya.

Zinoom ni Shiloh ang video at inanalyze ang litrato, hindi naman ganong kalabo.

"Hash brownies."

"You mean..."

Tumango ang kapatid ko. "Edible drugs," he said. "Mukhang totoo pala talaga yung mga sabi-sabi," bulong niya.

Hash brownies or edible drugs or cannabis edible is no joke, it has an amount of Tetrahydrocannabinol which can make a person high, feel relaxed and even experience euphoria which means Alexander might have intentionally killed Uriva because of the psychological effects of the chemical. Hindi na bago ang ganitong kaso lalo na kung nakatira ng droga ang isang taong nagmamaneho ng kotse.

"Tungkol saan?"

"Unwind Club, mukhang totoo nga na kapag VVIP ka may iseserve sa iyong droga ng libre."

I smirked. "For free?" I cursed again. "Where is Ruiz now?" tanong ko.

"Anong binabalak mo, Saniya?" Morgan asked with a worried tone.

"He was high when he drove and hit Uriva, I won't let an asshole like him roam around even more," tiningnan ko ang tatlong monitor niya pero puro CCTV Footage lang ito habang ang laptop naman niya ay puro codes. "Where the hell is he, Shiloh?" I glared at him.

"Why are you always scary, ate?" Shiloh said as he looked for Alexander's location in his laptop's magic. "He is at his penthouse at Tower Executive Hotel."

I clapped my hands once and tapped my brother's shoulder. "Good, send me everything you got as fastest as you can, and thanks a lot."

"No prob, but please don't show up unannounced," binigyan niya ako ng nagpapacute na expression, tumango na lang ako at tinapik muli ang balikat niya.

"Tara na, Morgan," naglakad na ako papalabas ng bahay ng kapatid ko at napatigil ako nang madama kong hindi sumunod siya sumunod sa akin, nilingon ko siya. "Morgan?"

"Hindi tama ito, Saniya, wala kang warrant o proper evidence na magtuturo kay Ruiz."

Suminghap ako. "Hindi pa ba sapat ang mga nakalap ng kapatid ko?" I asked. "Why are you always against me? Kampon ka din ba ng higher-ups, Morgan?"

"That's not what一"

"Don't talk, if you talk I will dump you."

"Saniya just hear me out first, oka一"

"Dumped, I can do this by myself, see you," I said as I walked away, why does work always a hindrance to my almost romance?

Nakaalis na akong Salim at papunta na sa Bus Stop nang biglang may bumunggo sa aking lalaki.

"Patawad, binibini," he said, binigyan niya rin ako ng bow at saka umalis. Tinitingnan ko siya habang naglalakad papalayo hanggang sa mapapadpad ang mata ko sa aking talampakan.

I frowned. It is a vintage golden pocket clock.

Pagmamay-ari siguro ito noong lalaki, this looks expensive and glamorous, the time is not ticking, it's probably broken.

My phone suddenly rang, I sighed as I saw Morgan's name, I rejected it. Until another call came and this time it is from Detective Harris Quinto from Narcotic Department.

Mabilis ko itong sinagot.

"Drug user si Alexander Ruiz?" bungad niya sa akin.

"How did you一" he didn't let me finish my sentence.

"Just a simple yes or no will do, Detective Beltran."

Napasinghap ako, sigurado akong si Morgan ang nagsabi sa kaniya. "Yes, but why are you asking this, Detective Quinto?" I asked as I changed the placement of my cellphone from right to left.

"I will give you an arrest warrant, I will send it to you via email right away, magpapadala rin ako ng back-up sa penthouse. Siguraduhin niyong magiging positive sa drug test si Ruiz, isasaalang-alang ko ang posisyon ko rito," napangiti ako.

"Thank you, Detective."

"No need to thank me. I am doing this to benefit our department, and all I need is Alexander Ruiz's information about Unwind Club illegal drugs distribution."

Nang makita ko ang paparating na bus nagpaalam na ako kay Detective Quinto, may natanggap naman ako agad na email mula sa kaniya, arrest warrant ito legally sa mga drug abuser, it's a clever way of arresting a criminal, it's like killing birds with one stone.

Pasakay na sana ako sa public vehicle nang biglang marinig ko ang busina ng kotseng nasa likod ng bus.

"You think I will let you dumped me, Saniya? I won't! So hop on and let's arrest that jerk!" sigaw niya, typical Morgan, I grin like a Cheshire cat.

When we arrived at the Tower Executive Hotel, police cars, with emergency lights, are parked unsightly.

"They are fast," I said as I open and got off Morgan's car. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang may makita akong lalaking duguan na nasa stretcher. "What the hell happened to him?" I asked as I looked at Alexander Ruiz's bloody face.

"No one knows, when we arrived at his penthouse it is unlocked and blood is splattered everywhere, it seems like someone murdered him," sambit ni Detective Quinto.

Napasinghap ako, inilagay ko ang dalawang daliri ko sa wrist ni Ruiz ngunit wala na itong pulso.

He is dead.

I put my hand in my hair, this is stressful. Bakit ngayon pa?

"Is there a sign of robbery?" tanong ko, umiling si Detective Quinto.

"It is obviously homicide," he said as he handed a pair of gloves. "I think you should supervise this case, Homicide Detective Officer Beltran."

I sighed once again as I wear the gloves he gave me. I didn't saw this coming, our primary suspect is dead, at ngayon mukhang kami pa ang magsosolve ng pagpatay sa kaniya.

Ipapasok na sana sa ambulance car si Ruiz para dalhin sa Police Morgue ngunit pinigilan ko muna ang mga medics.

"Give me 5 minutes, please," I said as I gesture five in my palm, nagtinginan ang medics at tumango. "Thank you," pasasalamat ko.

I looked at his corpse. He has a bruise in his neck but I am in doubt that's the reason of his death, I searched for the wound in his head, nako-cover ng dugo ang mukha niya kaya sigurado akong may dahilan iyon. When I saw it there it is, the wound, it looks like he was hitted by a hard substance.

Pamilyar sa akin ang way ng pagkamatay niya, palo sa ulo at strangled by rope, I even saw a black ribbon tied in his right wrist.

"Impossible," sambit ko.

"Saniya, are you okay?" tiningnan ko si Morgan na nasa tabi ko.

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong niya sa akin, bagkus tinanong ko ang mga nakaunipormeng officers.

"Are you sure nothing is missing?" tanong ko. They shook their head. "Did you even look thoroughly?!"

"What's wrong? You need to calm down..." Morgan held my hand, I removed it.

"I am calm, I am just asking them because this case might be similar from 9 years ago," malakas kong sambit. Tinuro ko ang mga parteng napansin ko kanina kay Ruiz, iyong ulo niya, leeg at black ribbon. "Hitted by一A-A hammer, strangled by a rope and a black ribbon was tied in his wrist, perfectly knotted."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin, Saniya?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

"A-Actually Detective Beltran something is missing in one of Alexander Ruiz's car toy collections, may bakanteng cabinet, but it might be not connected here, walang sign ng forced opening sa kaniyang glass display cabinet," I knew it, bumilis ang paghinga ko.

"Saniya!" inalog ako ni Morgan, I can't breathe.

"Grim reaper," sambit ko habang nakatulala, I gulp. "I think he's back."

He frowned, looked at me and made me directly look at his eyes. "Fine, he's back, pero bago ang lahat kailangan mong kumalma," when he said that I took a deep breath. I always get angry and anxious as well every time I remember the monster who killed my father 9 years ago.

Sigurado akong ang pumatay kay Alexander ay si Grim Reaper, maraming gumagaya ng pattern niya ng pagpatay pero hindi alam ng lahat na may isa pa siyang pattern na never inidisclose ng pulisya. Everyone thought his way of owning his victims is by putting a tied black ribbon but little did they know that he also keeps trophies, my father's handcuffs are gone when he was found dead.

When I searched my father's murder case archive I saw that he didn't have it anymore. Nandoon pa rin ang badge niya, baril at ID pero iyong handcuff wala na, the same case for the 69 people he killed, may maliit o simpleng bagay na nawawala sa kanila.

The freaking police administration from 9 years ago didn't disclose it because they thought it might only give more creeps for the citizen and to the victim's family.

Kasama kong pumasok si Morgan sa loob ng penthouse ni Ruiz and his place is not good to look at, tama ang sinabi ni Detective Quinto kanina, blood are splattered everywhere, kung siguro hindi ako Homicide Detective baka nagsusuka na ako pero sanay na ako sa ganitong eksena.

Pinagsuot kami ng additional hair cover, booties at mask para hindi macontaminate ang crime scene.

Napabuntong hininga ako dahil naalala ko ang litrato ng crime scene ni Papa hindi nalalayo sa nakikita ko ngayon.

"Did you ask for back-ups from our department?" iginala ko ang paningin ko sa crime scene, walang footprints ng dugo, he's a clever and intelligent serial killer.

"Yes, and our CSAs are also coming,"

"I hope the Analyst will find something worth the effort, a strand of hair, fingerprint or even a drop of saliva, nothing's impossible with technology."

Hinanap ko ang glass display cabinet na tinutukoy ni Police Officer Pascua. When I saw it, like what he described, there are no traces of forced opening. Ang ibang car toy ay naka-lock habang isa lang ang bukas at wala ng laman.

I don't understand a single thing. What's Grim Reaper's reason for coming back? And why did he killed a murderer first?

He killed 70 innocent lives before一including my father.

There must be a reason. What could it be?

I heard footsteps approaching us.

"Saniya, he is the TEH manager and they are the guards and they want to give you a word," tumango ako sa sinabi ni Morgan at inaya na ang sila papalabas ng penthouse.

Tiningnan ko ang pinto ni Ruiz, it's secured with a fingerprint sensor and there is a need of passcode also.

Mukhang hindi siya marahas na pumasok.

"Good Evening, Detective, mukhang kailangan niyo po atang malaman na matindi ang security ng Hotel na ito, if kasalanan man ng security ito you should talk to us first before giving a word with the reporters, we cannot risk the fine image of Tower Executive Hotel in case for an unannounced release of information," so they are more conscious with their image more than the safety of their residents.

Tumango na lang ako at tiningnan ang kaniyang nameplate. "Alam ko kung anong ibig mong sabihin, Miss Lora," I removed my gloves, "Pinapasok niya ang pumatay sa kaniya."

"Po?" tanong niya pa, nagtataka ang mga nakapaskil sa mukha nila.

"Is there a suspicious guy entering TEH from the time frame 7 PM to 8 PM?" I asked.

Nagtinginan ang gwardya at parehong umiling.

"That's impossible."

"Saniya!" nagitla ako sa sigaw ni Morgan.

"What's wrong?"

"They found a cleaner company clothes inside the comfort room," bang, that's it, he disguised himself as a cleaner and entered Ruiz's penthouse.

Pumasok ako agad.

"Where are the CSAs?" tanong ko kay Morgan.

"There they are," nilingon ko ang Crime Scene Analyst na sina Mr. Gomez at Mr. Laos.

I bowed my head as a greeting. "Collect all the possible pieces of evidence here, and make sure to analyze all the hair strands and fingerprints you will find. Kayo na ang bahala rito sa crime scene, we know you are also competent," sambit ko bago magpaalam at lumabad sa penthouse.

Hinubad ko ang mga protective supplies na suot ko, ganon din ang ginawa ni Morgan.

We will go to the exclusive CCTV room of this hotel.

The night became smooth, we saw the footage of Grim Reaper entering TEH and leaving but with a different disguise, he is a really smart killer, his tactics are clever.

As expected our department and jurisdiction are the one that was assigned in Alexander Ruiz's murder case. My teammates don't want to solve this because they think it is too "risky" so I had no choice but to command them to obey my protocol and it is to be part of the case.

Sergeant Castro was on probation for a month because of the false evidence he gave but I know it won't last longer than 31 days, hawak siya ng higher-ups kaya maibabalik muli ang pwesto niya wala pang isang buwan. The false evidence he gave is only a reenactment of what happened that night, same place and same time in a different date. Iyong babaeng nagpanggap na Uriva ay kinulong din namin dahil kahit saang anggulo forgery pa rin ang ginawa nilang reenactment and even impersonation, even the body guard is jailed because he is part of the scheme.

Kahit na murder victim si Ruiz hindi ako pumayag na mawawala ang pagiging suspect niya, so we revealed his wrongdoings and him being a drug abuser, he is found positive drug user. Wala nang nagawa pa ang higher-ups sa paglabas namin ng katotohanan.

Unwind Club was also swept away upon knowing their illegal distribution of drugs.

Since Uriva's killer is already dead it won't be pushed through the court but her parents are still thankful to us as well as the citizen's of the city.

And one hell week passed but we still haven't found any traces of Grim Reaper, I know it won't be easy but I won't let my guard down. After Ruiz he killed another person this time it is innocent, no criminal records, I am still wondering why he killed Alexander Ruiz.

I received a call from my mother, napangiti ako saka ito sinagot.

"Kailan mo bibisitahin ang nanay mo?" she asked. "Death anniversary na ng Papa mo bukas, hindi ka ba matutulog manlang dito sa bahay?" dagdag niya pa, I have my own apartment near at the district office, ever since I became a homicide detective I isolated myself from my loved ones because I know anything bad could happen.

My profession is not easy, your safety is always at risk and anytime you could also be killed. Ang kalaban namin ay killers, we searched for them and sometimes along with arresting them there is a high possibility of injuries because they are people who are not scared of hurting anyone. I can't risk even my mother and brother's life, mine is enough.

"Mama naman e, papunta na ako ngayon huwag kang mag-alala," sambit ko kahit ang totoo ay nakalimutan kk dahil sa sobrang hectic sa trabaho, tumayo ako at naghubad ng damit, nasa bahay ako ngayon at nagpapahinga dahil day-off ko, naghanap ako ng masusuot kong formal at nagmadaling kumilos, hinanap ko ang susi ng aking kotse at mabilisang lumabas sa aking apartment.

"Alam kong papasakay ka palang sa kotse mo kaya huwag mo nang subukang magsinungaling," bigla akong natawa, narinig ko rin ang tawa ni Mama.

"May gusto po ba kayong ipabili?" tanong ko at bukas ng kotse.

Iniloudspeaker ko ang phone ko at iniligay ito sa cellphone holder ko ng aking kotse.

"Bulaklak, iyong paborito ng Papa mo, ha?"

"Osige po ma, Hyacinth," sambit ko. My dad loves Hyacinth, the reason is it is the flower that made him met my mother一his true love, he once told us he doesn't have ideas regarding flowers but when mother introduced him the Hyacinth flower, he fell in love with it as he fell in love with her.

"Good," nakarinig ako ng katok mula sa linya ni Mama. "O siya magdrive ka na lang, nandito na ata ang kapatid mo, papatayin ko na ito," pagkasabing-pagkasabi noon ni Mama ay pinatay na nga niya ito.

It will take me 1 hour to arrive at my old home if there is no traffic.

Thankfully the road is almost empty and there are only a few cars traveling like me, it's possibly because today is Sunday and a lot of people are just in their home.

I parked my car at the parking space of Gardenia Flower Shop near my mother's place. When I entered the store different scents entered my nostrils, astonishing kinds of smell.

"Good evening," bati ng babaeng sa tingin ko ay owner nitong store. Pumunta ako sa kaniya na nasa counter. She is wearing an apron.

"Good evening, can I get a bouquet of Hyacinth? And please arrange it beautifully," I said as I give my credit card.

Nginitian niya lamang ako.

Mabilis niya lamang naiarrange ang flowers, napangiti ako dahil ang ganda ng pagkakaayos niya.

"Thank you, it's beautiful," I said.

May inabot siya sa aking isang pirasong dilaw na bulaklak, napakunot ako.

"What's this?"

"Daffodil," she said, kinuha ko ito. "Thank you for buying a bouquet of flower to us."

It's out of nowhere but I appreciate it since it is a beautiful color yellow flower. "Thank you," pasasalamat ko sa kaniya, ibinigay na niya sa akin ang aking credit card.

"Thank you for coming," aniya pa saka bow.

Ngumiti ako at nagbow din bago lumabas sa store.

Pumasok na ako sa kotse ko at inilagay sa passenger seat ang Hyacinth Bouquet, ang Daffodil namang bulaklak na binigay sa akin ay inilagay ko rin doon.

Malapit lang ang Gardenia Flower Shop sa bahay namin kaya makaraan lamang ang limang minuto ay nakarating na ako sa amin.

I smiled as I remembered my old home. Doon ako lumaki, mula sanggol hanggang 21 years old ako ay doon ako tumira, I suddenly missed the days where everything is perfect.

Ipinark ko ang kotse ko at pinatay ang makina,

Biglang nagawi ang mata ko windshield, I saw the vintage pocket watch I got from the night Ruiz died, it is still there since I don't know how to give it back to its owner. Kinuha ko ito at tingnan.

"Wala man lang nakasulat na pangalan."

Biglang nagring ang phone ko, si Mama ulit, sinagot ko ito agad, ibubuka ko na sana ang bibig ko nang biglang may magsalita agad.

"Hindi ka pa ba papasok? Inip na inip na ako," it's a man's voice.

"Who are you?" tanong ko dahil sigurado akong hindi si Mama ang kausap ko.

"G, R, I, M, R, E, A一" hindi ko na siya pinatapos pa, lumabas na ako sa kotse at pumasok sa bahay namin. There is no lights, he probably broke the electricity circuit.

Iginila ko ang mata ko para hanapin siya, hanggang sa makaramdam ako ng paghila sa buhok ko, hinihila niya ako papasok ng aking kwarto nabitawan ko ang hawak kong phone at orasan nang makita ko si Mama na nakagapos at walang malay.

"Ma! Ma! Anong ginawa mo kay Mama?" tanong ko sa kaniya, itinapat ko ang tenga ko sa bibig ni Mama, she is still breathing.

Tiningnan ko siya, he is wearing a black jacket, black gloves, and white scream mask, may hawak din siyang sledge hammer.

Hinila niya muli ang buhok ko at pinalo ang aking ulo gamit ang hammer, napahiyaw ako sa sakit, para itong binasag.

I breathe heavily as he put me down hard.

"Don't touch my mother, if you want to kill me, just do it!" I yelled.

I heard him giggled, parang nasisiyahan pa siyang nakikita akong nakabulagta sa sahig.

A psychopath.

Kumirot ang ulo ko kaya inilagay ko ang aking kamay, nang tingnan ko ito puro dugo, nanginginig na ang kamay ko.

I know he is not done, alam ko na ang susunod niyang gagawin kaya inihanda ko na lang ang sarili ko, nanghihina na ako kaya hindi ko magawang gumalaw.

"Aren't you curious why I killed that guy named Alexander Ruiz?" he asked pero nakatingin lamang ako sa kaniya dahil sa sakit na nadarama ko. "June 15, 2019, 2:30AM, papatayin ko dapat si Uriva Galvez, kaso naramdaman niya atang may sumusunod sa kaniya kaya binilisan niya ang takbo at noong bago siya tumawid, natapilok siya, hihigitin ko na sana ang buhok niya pero nakatayo siya agad at mabagal na tumawid sa pole high-way at inunahan ako ng lalaking iyon patayin ito dahil sa pagbangga niya, nag-init ang dugo ko kaya nagpag-isip-isip kong si Alexander Ruiz na lang ang papatayin ko," napakunot ako.

That makes sense. Bullshit, why didn't I think about it?

"Are you that in love with killing?" I am trying to provoke him.

Tumawa lang siya at naglakad papalabas ng kwarto.

Nakita ko ang anino niyang may hawak na lubid, sasakalin niya na ako gamit iyon.

"Yes and do you even know you reminded me of someone I know一I killed," tumawa na naman siya. "Beltran tama? Anak ni Sancho Beltran, isang detective homicide officer noon na namatay sa kamay ng hinuhuli niyang serial killer, namatay sa kamay ko."

"I will fucking kill you whoever you are, and why are you hiding your face with that mask? Are you scared to be arrested, you fucking asshole?" what I said made him grin, he's really crazy.

"How will you fucking kill me if I will kill you first tonight?" sambit niya saka lapit ng mukha niya sa akin. "Nakuha mo ang pagiging competent ng tatay mo kaya parehas kayo ng tadhana, ikamusta mo ako kay Detective Sancho ha?" he said as he bind the rope to me, he won't kill me from choking, I know he won't.

Tumigil siya.

"You are serene for someone who is being strangled, It's flabbergasting, Saniya Beltran."

Lumunok muna ako bago magsalita. "If I will die today I will still find and kill you, even if it is in the future or even on the past, I will kill you, asshole, I will kill you."

"Very bewildering last words, too bad you will die on my hands tonight, I won't forget you Saniya, ciao," aniya bago ipalo sa akin nang malakas ang sledge hammer na hawak niya.

I closed my eyes as I felt the一not bargained for一pain of death.